Is this a good idea?
I'm in California and will be moving to the Costa del Sol of Spain to rejoin my UK husband via the Schengen Visa. I have two cats. I read that I need a health certificate, but will they be quarantined in Spain and for how long and are there costs?

Also I understand that many airlines do not allow pets anymore as they don't want to meet the new FAA standards. Does anyone know which airline still does and do they handle pets well?

I'm concerned with the long flight, I don't think it's possible to drug the cats for a 14-hour flight and would hate to have them freak out in the air or in baggage claim.

Does anybody have any advice for this cat lover? One is 14 and the other is 3 years old. ??:

Or maybe I should look into taking a freighter with them, anyone have experience with that? But I still have to get them to the east coast...Ahhhh, my breaking heart...

 

Thanks a million Trina! You've put my mind at ease.
Ciao

 

TRINA I need your help!
Ok, I'm going to fly with Luftstansa but as I'm bringing two cats I may go the easier route and put them in one carrier in cargo. As I have to fly to Malaga, I have to change planes in Frankfurt with a wait of about 6 hours. I'm worried about sedation again as the airline said they would transfer them to the next plane. And they are supposed to be given water every 12 hours according to regulations. The first plane's flight is 14 hours I think. How were yours treated exactly when you flew them that way? Do I need a carrier with a food bowl attached then also?

We are also considering a direct flight to Madrid and then taking the train to Malaga so we don't have this layover business. Do you (or anybody else) know what the policies are for pets on the train and baggage for that matter as I'll be taking 3 of the biggest pieces possible (each about 70 pounds)?

The US consulate directs you to the train website where those questions are addressed but they are in Spanish and I don't trust my Spanish enough yet to be able to interpret regulations accurately.

Thanks in advance!

 

Guess I better just scratch the train idea. Thanks for the quick response.

I spoke to Lufstansa again and they said I could not see them in Frankfurt. They take them to some animal area where they have people who check on them. I asked them if something was wrong, would they page me? She said they have never needed to before. So I guess that's reassuring.

I'm so excited and so happy I'll be able to have my cats join me in my new life in Spain.

Did you hear with the new regulations as of October 1st, pets need a passport to travel inside and out of EU countries?

Say did you microchip or tattoo your dogs? I'm going to microchip mine with Home Again (it's supposed to be compatible). The new regulations are so strict, but I'm so glad Spain is a bit more lenient than UK.

If anybody else needs to know the ins and outs of bringing your pets to EU after October 1st, please feel free to ask as I feel like an expert now as I've spoken to so many officials about it. lol lol!

Thanks again Trina for calming my nerves and for the great referral to Lufstansa. They seem very reasonable and accommodating. Is the flight pretty comfortable for humans too?